Talent

by Annie B Matthews

  Kelly was even more relaxed than usual, evidently as a result of Libby knowing the truth about her. It was disconcerting though, the way her friend’s eyes would flicker before refocusing a moment later. She hadn’t noticed it before, although maybe Kelly had just been more careful to hide it.

  “Sam saw that new Hanks movie last night,” she commented after one of her distracted moments. “It looks excellent. Shall we go tonight?”

  “God, you’re nosey,” Libby teased. “You’d put it to better use reading Mr Gilbert’s mind and getting some of those answers right.”

  Screwing up her nose in dismay, Kelly surveyed her work. “These are wrong? All of them?”

  Sighing, Libby tapped her pen to the first formula. “Correct this, then change the rest of the answers accordingly.” She watched in amusement as Kelly huffed and went back to the beginning. “You don’t read for this sort of thing?”

  “That would be cheating,” the redhead replied primly. “I don’t cheat.”

  “Ever?” Somewhat disbelieving, Libby sat back in her chair. She knew she’d be tempted to do so if she could.

  “Never.”

  “And you can choose who to listen to?” Libby lowered her voice as Mr Gilbert sent an annoyed glance towards them.

  Kelly smiled. “Yes. You having trouble?”

  “Listen.” Libby ran through her experiences in her head, thinking of how she had to concentrate on other things to avoid the emotional deluge. It was much easier to throw herself into her work then it was to sit and daydream. The harder she worked, the more engaged she was in the task, the less she felt from the students around her.

  “It’ll get easier with practice,” Kelly assured her when she’d finished. “Remember you’re new to this. Soon you won’t need to be a nerd.”

  Libby stuck her tongue out as Kelly laughed.

  The day flew by. Like Kelly, Libby couldn’t seem to help checking on those around her. She worked out that a girl in History had a crush on her best friend’s boyfriend. She also focused on Tom, whose quiet contentment was more relaxing than anything else she'd experienced.

  They walked together to the canteen, carrying their trays to their usual table. Tom sat opposite her, regarded her with concern.

  “You’re away with the fairies these days,” he told her. “What’s the matter? Is it your mum?”

  She shrugged. Like she’d ever be able to explain her crazy new life to Tom, any more than she could share it with Sally. And, oh, that had been tempting. It was tempting to let Tom in on it at times, since he was a great listener and always made her feel better. He’d been brilliant after her mum had left.

  Still, this was something else altogether.

  “No. It’s nothing.”

  “Nothing otherwise known as Jackson?” He grinned as her eyes flashed to his. “Come on, it’s so obvious between you two.”

  Glumly, she pushed her unfinished lunch away as she thought of Kelly telling her virtually the same thing. “Yeah, so people keep telling me. I’m making an idiot out of myself.”

  Tom shook his head. “How? He’s just as gone over you.”

  “No, he’s not.” She rubbed her hands over her face, weary.

  Tom laughed. “So his watching you all the time, keeping a careful distance...none of those things might make you believe he has a thing for you?”

  She wished she could believe it, but she knew otherwise. He was simply listening to her every thought. She pouted. “They also could indicate a patent dislike.”

  “I can tell the difference between looks of longing and looks of hatred,” he replied dryly. “Besides, if he didn’t like you he wouldn’t spend any time with you at all, let alone moon over you in the process.”

  Her heart jolted a little at that, but she shook her head in denial. “He spends time with me because I’m friends with Kelly and Danny.”

  “Right. Go ahead and believe that.” His eyes glinted with amusement. “But next time he’s staring at you, I’ll kick you under the table and you’ll see it for yourself.”

  “Sure,” she replied dryly, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.

  When she arrived home, her father was in mid-clean. She was greeted to the sound of the vacuum and the tart scent of pine cleaner. Grimacing, she hung her bag up on the coat hooks and shrugged out of her jacket.

  This was never a good sign. As soon as the cleaning equipment came out, it was a sure sign that he was annoyed. In the old days he’d sometimes come home late from work and start cleaning the kitchen or bathroom, often as late as midnight. He’d vacuum with a vengeance if he’d had a disagreement with anyone. Libby and her mum had often laughed about it, directing him to the jobs that had needed most attention.

  “Dad?”

  The whine of the vacuum ended abruptly and he appeared at the top of the stairs. “Hey Libby.”

  She opened up, sensed his frustration and sadness. Sighing a little, she managed a smile. “I can do the housework, you know.”

  “I’m almost done.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Just finishing up here. I’ve not touched your room, since your clothes appear to be the new carpet and I wasn’t sure how the vacuum would cope.”

  “Ha ha. I’ll do it after dinner.” She ran through a mental list of cupboard contents. “Is soup okay? I can get started on that now if you’re hungry.”

  “Sure.”

  He disappeared and the vacuum started up again.

  By the time the simple meal was on the table, he had joined her in the kitchen. He seemed better. She knew he believed in her mother’s return, as she did, but he was constantly afraid for her and frequently angry. Yet even the anger was borne of helplessness more than any ill feeling towards her mother. Libby wondered if that was the sign of love, forgiveness at all costs.

  “Dad, how long do you think it’ll take?”

  He didn’t pretend not to know what she was referring to. “I don’t know, Libs. Your mother…” He sighed a little, shook his head. “She said she’d be back and she meant it. If she needs time, we have to let her have it.”

  “You so good about it,” Libby pressed, unsure exactly what she wanted to hear from him. “Aren’t you mad at her? At all?”

  “Are you?” He met her eyes directly, his voice sympathetic rather than accusatory.

  “Sometimes.”

  He sat back in his chair, sympathy lining his handsome face. “Try not to blame her. She’s a woman as well as a mother. Leaving you will have been very difficult for her.”

  Libby ate in silence for a while, thinking that through. He was being honest. He didn’t blame her mum at all for leaving. In fact, it was almost as though he’d been through this before….

  “This isn’t the first time,” she exclaimed with sudden certainty. “She’s left before. When?”

  He swallowed a bite of sandwich. “You were a toddler, you wouldn’t remember it. She left for three weeks after her sister died.”

  “Her sister. That would be Maria.” Her mum had spoken of her sister now and then, a little sadly but always fondly.

  “That’s right. Your mother…” he exhaled, as if unable to find the right words. “She’s sensitive.”

  Sensitive. Right.

  Three weeks. It had been two already. Would she be back sooner this time? Or would this absence stretch out until she struggled to remember her mother’s voice, her face, her warmth?

  Her appetite vanishing, Libby pushed away the bowl of soup.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you that Kelly rang.”

  Her mood brightened. “Kelly? When?”

  “Just before you got back. She wanted to know if you were able to go out tonight.” He grinned. “I suspected she was getting my permission, since she didn’t call your mobile.”

  “Sounds like her.” Libby hesitated. “It’ll only be to the pub. What are your plans?”

  “Don’t worry about me,” he replied with a smile. “There’s a movie I want to watch on TV. You go out and enjoy yourself.
”

  She didn't waste any time in calling Kelly back and arranging to meet her at the Beauton Arms. Once they were settled with their usual juice and coke, Kelly got straight to the point.

  “So you’ve had quite a week,” she commented, unusually solemn. “How are you? Really?”

  Libby smiled. “Confused. Mark…well, from all accounts he’s doing really well, considering. Depression’s not really something that just goes away, is it?”

  “No. But he’s got plenty of people keeping an eye on him, plenty of support.” Kelly leaned forward. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “What can I say?” Libby sat back in her seat, dragging her eyes from the door to her friend. Jackson wasn’t here, and obviously didn’t plan to be. Why she was still watching the door was a mystery and an annoyance. “Yeah it was a shock to find out about you guys, but at the end of the day I’m just grateful not to be in this alone.”

  She turned her glass of orange juice around in her hands for a moment, watching the condensation slide down to the table. There were so many questions, it was impossible to sort through them all. For every question Kelly had answered over the last few days, Libby thought of a dozen more. It was a constant surprise to her that the redhead hadn’t gotten fed up of her.

  “Kelly, this thing you have with Danny...”

  “Thing?” Kelly smiled, allowing the change of topic. “What about it?”

  “How does it work exactly? Can you all listen in on each other’s thoughts?”

  Kelly regarded her for a moment. “It’s different when you have a connection with someone. Take my parents and Jack. We can hear each other from quite a distance if we need to, although I couldn’t do that with another talent. Danny’s dad, for example.”

  “Right.” She figured that made sense, but was more interested in the link Kelly and Danny seemed to have.

  “With Danny it’s a bit different. If Jack was talking to mum at home now, I could listen in if I chose. But no one can hear me and Danny. It’s just us, thank goodness.”

  Fascinated, Libby leaned forward, pushing her empty glass to one side. “And did you realize that from the beginning?”

  Kelly grinned. “No, not exactly, although I always knew he was important. We were quite young when we met so I didn’t recognize it for a while. I think he did, though.”

  “You think?” This was baffling. Surely there was nothing they didn’t know about each other.

  “I was twelve, Danny was just fourteen. I think it traumatized him a bit at that age!” She laughed at some memory. “Needless to say, three or four years later there was no trauma.”

  “Speak for yourself.” Danny’s voice had Libby jolting in surprise. She hadn’t even sensed his approach. “I’m constantly traumatized.”

  Kelly’s laugh was light, full of confidence and knowledge. The twinge of envy Libby felt was enough to have her glancing away as the couple kissed hello.

  The atmosphere in the pub was great. She opened up, letting the humour and high spirits swirl through her. It was almost enough to drown thoughts of Jackson. Almost.

  A familiar face caught her eye and she smiled, returning the boy’s wave. He was in one of her classes, but she couldn’t remember his name.

  “He thinks you’re hot,” Kelly announced. “He’s planning on coming over here later to talk to you.”

  “Kelly.” The amused warning from Danny had Libby blushing. There were some things she’d prefer not to know. On the plus side, she considered, it was nice to know that someone found her attractive.

  Danny changed the subject, saving her further embarrassment. “Kelly wants to see a movie tomorrow. Are you keen?”

  “Sure.” It might help take her mind off Jackson. Libby was always trying to find distractions these days. “Which movie?”

  Kelly began a dissection of each movie showing at the local cinema, making Libby laugh as she realized that Kelly’s reviews were based on the thoughts of those who’d already seen them. Mind reading sure saved time, she reflected.

  “I’m not interested in horror,” she interjected, bringing Kelly’s gruesome description of some werewolf movie to a halt. “Too gross. What about that action one?”

  “The one about the bank robbery?” She thought it over. “It got good reviews. Sounds like a winner.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.” She glanced over at the door again as it opened, felt the disappointment when it wasn’t him.

  This was pathetic.

  She got to her feet. “Fancy something to eat? I’m going to get a bag of crisps.”

  Kelly perked up. “Prawn cocktail please.”

  “Like minds,” Libby commented lightly. “I’ll be right back.”

  The barman was busy. She didn’t mind the wait. Forcing her thoughts from Jackson, she watched the people around her. Surely someone could distract her?

  “Hi Libby.”

  The boy who'd been watching her from the bar. She smiled even as she racked her brains for his name. “Hi. How’s it going?”

  “Good.” He nodded towards the barman. “He looks busy. I guess we have a bit of a wait.”

  He was nervous. It made her own wariness melt away and she felt herself relax.

  “I’m not in any hurry.” She leaned against the bar. “Who are you here with?”

  He started talking. He was funny, she realized, once his nerves had worn off. He liked sports, hated History and had a talent for making hilarious observations about the people around them. It occurred to Libby that he and Kelly would get on marvelously. It was some time before she realized that the barman had completely passed them over.

  “Hang on, I came here for crisps,” she laughed. “You’ve completely distracted me.”

  A group of lads came through the door then, raucous and full of spirits. She looked over at them, sensing something strange about their mood.

  Immediately wary, she flicked her companion a distracted smile. “My friend’s gesturing something. I’d better see what she wants. Catch you later?”

  “Sure.”

  Libby hurried back to the others, glancing nervously at the boys behind her.

  “Drunk?” She glanced at Kelly, trying to temper the panic that threatened her. “It feels…off.”

  “They’re not drunk.” But her friend frowned, glanced over at Danny. He smiled a little, took her hand in his before turning to Libby.

  “Let’s go.”

  Danny drained the last of his beer, exchanging a quick look with Kelly. Libby felt the edge of his concern and glanced back at the group of boys by the bar. She focused, felt the stirrings of anger.

  “Fight,” she murmured, grabbed her jacket even as Danny took her arm with his free hand.

  Kelly winced. “Here goes.”

  Shouts erupted, fists flew. The flare of fury and the curious excitement of the crowd swamped her. Her heart pounded, her palms went slick with sweat. She had a moment to bemoan the failure of her block against a mob before Danny pulled her towards the back entrance.

  “We need to head out the back.” His voice was low, holding only a trace of annoyance. She’d seen fights before of course, but never with the same insight into the emotions that went with them. Anxious, she nodded her understanding, but as he released her the press of bodies surged, pushing her forward and away from Danny and Kelly.

  Fear and fascination drove the crowd towards the fight, which had quickly escalated.

  Glass smashed, someone screamed. Taking a breath as she struggled to keep the mêlée of emotions separate from her own, Libby quickly looked around for another exit. She saw the sign for the beer garden and headed for it.

  Progress wasn’t easy. She could feel how excited the students were, and the anger of those involved in the fight. The bar staff who had gotten involved in the hope of breaking it up had only made things worse, and now some of them were part of it. Emotions were running high, all mixed with varying degrees of disbelief. Libby gathered fighting was not too common in this to
wn.

  Someone shoved from behind and she fell forwards, her hip catching on the sharp corner of a table. Hissing in pain, she pushed her curls out of her eyes and wriggled and pushed through to the side exit.

  Someone flung open the door as she reached it. The blast of cold air was a relief. She had time to register a glimpse of green eyes, a familiar scowl, before she was pulled out of the crowd and up against a solid body. Jackson.

  She gripped his jacket, taking a deep breath as her heart steadied.

  “Libby, are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She managed a smile, slightly taken aback by how…fine…she felt as he held her. “How did you get here?”

  “I was already on my way.” He frowned, glancing down to where his hand rested on her bruised hip as though he were able to assess the damage through denim.

  “It’s just a bruise.”

  His eyes met hers again and she had the feeling he could feel the sting as clearly as she did. “Let’s go.”

  She heard the police siren as he spoke. With his hand at her back, Libby moved through the garden quickly, weaving past the picnic tables and out onto the street. She could see Kelly and Danny by the car, his hands cradling her face as they looked at one another. There were a few others on the street already and she wondered if the guy from her class was okay.

  She stumbled, flushing as Jackson steadied her. She glanced back at him, seeing his lips pressed into a hard line of displeasure. His gaze seemed fixed on his sister.

  “It wasn’t their fault. We got separated.” She didn’t know why she felt the need to explain.

  He glanced at her in surprise. “I know.”

  As they drew nearer, she saw the motorbike in the shadows beside the car, a gleaming machine in midnight blue and silver. No wonder he got here so fast, she thought wistfully.

  “Libby. You're okay.” Kelly smiled in relief at their approach, and Danny stepped back. “Wasn’t that a bit weird?”

  Libby nodded. “Something was definitely not right. There was…sometimes it seems that there’s a dark edge to people that isn’t always there.” She shrugged, thinking of Mark, even the lads who started the fight at the pub. “I can’t describe it.”